Switch assembly



June 9, 1959 D. F. MOYER SWITCH ASSEMBLY Filed March 26, 1958 FIG.

INVENTOR DAVID E FIG. 6

H18 ATTORNEY United States Patent SWITCH ASSEMBLY David F. Moyer,Dayton, Ohio Application March 26, 1958, Serial No. 724,017

12 Claims. (Cl. 200--93) This invention relates to a switch assembly.

An object of this invention is to provide an electric switch assemblywhich may be built in a small physical size.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a switch mechanismwhich may have the parts thereof easily and readily assembled, thusmaking low cost high speed assembly possible.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch assembly havinga movable contact member in which there is substantially single pointcontact on each closing operation thereof, and in which the movablecontact member has an infinite number of available contact points.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch assembly inwhich there is a minimum number of moving parts and in which there is aminimum amount of movement of any moving part.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch assembly inwhich there is a minimum moving mass.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch mechanism havingvery high speed operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a switch assembly inwhich there is a high ratio of impact and sealing force to moving massin a movable contact member.

Another object of this invention is to provide an easily assembledswitch mechanism in which the contact points are accurately locatedwithout adjustment.

Another object of this invention is to provide a high speed switchassembly in which the amount of contact bounce is extremely small.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, thecombination thereof, the method of manu facture, and the mode ofoperation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, of a switchassembly of this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 ofFigure 1. Figure 2 also shows portions of the switch assembly which werebroken away from Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure3.

Figure 5 is a view taken substantially on line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing the electric circuits of aswitch assembly of this invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a switch assembly of this inventioncomprises a base 10 which is of magnetizable material. Firmly attachedto the base 10 is a core member 12. Herein the base 10 is shown as beingprovided with an aperture into which one end of the core 12 is firmlypositioned. The core 12 is also attached to the base 10 by means ofwelding or the like as shown by reference numeral 14 in Figures 2 and 3.

The portion of the core 12 which is opposite the base 10 includes atapered end 16. The core 12 is a permanently magnetized body in whichthe tapered end 16 is of either a north or a south polarity and the endof the core 12 which is attached to the base 10 is of the oppositepolarity. A ball or sphere 18 which is made of magnetizable material ismagnetically held against the tapered end 16 of the core 12.

Encompassing the core 12 and in engagement with the base 10 is a thinsheet of insulator material 20.

Encircling the core 12 along a portion of the length thereof is aninsulator sleeve 22. Encircling the insulator sleeve 22 is an innerhollow cylinder or shell 24 which is open at both ends thereof. One endof the inner cylinder or shell 24 is in firm engagement with the sheetof insulator material as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The other end of thecylinder or shell 24 has a tapered protuberance 26 which extendssomewhat radial and has an arcuate terminal surface 30 adjacent thesphere or ball 18.

Encompassing the inner cylinder or shell 24 is an operating coil 34having retainer rings 35. One end of the operating coil 34 is providedwith a terminal lead 36 which is attached to a connector rod 38. Theother end of the operating coil 34 is provided with a terminal lead 40which is attached to a connector rod 42. The connector rods 38 and 42are held by a header or retainer block 44 having insulator beads 46through which the connector rods extend. The insulator beads 46 may beof glass or other suitable material.

The retainer block or header 44 is attached to an insulator pad 48. Theinsulator pad 48 is attached to a yoke 50 which straddles the taperedend 16 of the core 12. The yoke 50 is firmly attached to the core 12adjacent the tapered end 16 by any suitable means, such as by welding orthe like. The yoke 50 is of electric conductor material and is attachedto a connector rod or post 54 which is also carried by an insulator bead46 of the retainer block 44. The connector rod 54, as shown in Figures 2and 3, has a lower end 56 adjacent the ball 18.

Encompassing the operating coil 34 is an outer cylinder or shell 58,similar to the inner cylinder or shell 24. One end of the outer cylinderor shell 58 is in firm engagement with the sheet of insulator material20. The other end of the outer cylinder or shell 58 is provided with atapered protuberance 60 which extends substantially radially and has anarcuate terminal surface 62 adjacent the sphere or ball 18, as shown inFigure 4.

As stated above, the ball 18 is magnetically held by the core 12;furthermore, the ball 18 is retained from falling from the core 12during violent jarring or shaking of the assembly as movement of theball 18 in any direction is limited by the protuberances 26 and 60, bythe core 12, and by the lower end 56 of the connector rod 54.

A connector rod or post 66 is held by an insulator head 46 of theretainer block 44 and firmly connects to the tapered protuberance 60 ofthe outer shell 58, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The protuberance 60 hasa socket 67 into which the rod 66 is secured.

The inner cylinder or shell 24 has a connector rod 68 firmly attachedthereto by soldering or welding or the like, as shown in Figures 1 and3. The connector rod 68 extends through a glass insulator bead 46 of theheader or retainer block 44, as shown in Figure 3. A suitable covermember, not shown, may enclose the outer cylinder 58 and the header 44.

Any suitable source of electrical energy is attached to the connectorrods 38 and 42 for energization of the operating coil 34. The source ofelectrical energy attached to the connector rods 38 and 42 is of such acharacter that the polarity of the electrical energy may be readilycontrolled. Thus, for example, when the polarity of the connector rod 38is positive, current flows through the operating coil 34 in a givendirection. Likewise, when the polarity of the connector rod 42 ispositive, current flows through the operating coil 34 in the oppositedirection.

The outer cylinder 58 and the inner cylinder 24 are magneticallyconnected by means of a portion of the base member with only a slightair gap caused by the sheet of insulator material 20. Due to the factthat the operating coil 34 is disposed intermediate the outer shell 58and the inner shell 24, the direction of current flow through theoperating coil 34 controls the polarity of magnetization or thedirection of flow of magnetic flux in shells 24 and 58. With currentflow through the operating coil 34 in a given direction, theprotuberance 60 of the outer shell 58 becomes a north pole while theprotuberance 26 of the inner shell 24 becomes a south pole.

The ball 18 is normally in engagement with the arcuate surface 30 or 62of the protuberance 26 or 60, respectively, while the ball 18 is also,of course, magnetically held in engagement with the core 12. The ball 18thus completes a magnetic circuit formed by the core 12 and one of theshells 24 or 58.

For purposes of illustration, it is assumed that the polarity of thetapered end 16 of the core 12 is north. Therefore, when the operatingcoil 34 causes the protuberance 26 of the inner shell 24 to be of northpolarity and the tapered protuberance 60 of the outer shell 58 to be ofsouth polarity the ball 18 is attracted toward the protuberance 60 whilethe ball 18 is repelled from the protuberance 26. Thus, the ball 18firmly engages the arcuate surface 62 of the protuberance 60 while theball remains in engagement with the tapered end 16 of the core 12. Thus,the core 12 is electrically connected to the outer shell 58. Thus, anelectric circuit exists between the connector post 54 and the connectorpost 66. The ball 18 remains firmly in engagement with the protuberance60 after the coil 34 is deenergized, thus maintaining a closed magneticcircuit from the core 12 to the outer shell 58.

Continuing the illustration with the tapered end 16 of the core 12 beingof north polarity, when the operating coil 34 causes the protuberance 60to be of north polarity and the protuberance 26 to be of south polarity,the ball 18 is repelled from the protuberance 60 and attracted to theprotuberance 26. Thus, the ball 18 firmly engages the arcuate surface 30of the protuberance 26 while maintaining engagement with the tapered end16 of the core 12. Thus, the core 12 is electrically connected to theinner shell 24. The ball 18 remains in engagement with the protuberance26 after deenergization of the coil 34. During such engagement of theball 18 an electric conductor circuit exists from the connector rod 54to the connector rod 68.

Thus, it is understood that by controlling the applica tion of theelectrical energy applied to the operating coil 34, including control ofthe polarity of the electrical energy, switching operation is carriedout.

It is further to be understood that due to the fact that the shellmembers and the core and intermediate members are cylindrical, closetolerances between contact points may be maintained in a switchmechanism which is easily and readily assembled.

The switch assembly of this invention can be constructed in a very smallphysical size in consideration of the currents which may be controlledthereby.

Furthermore, due to the fact that the reluctance of the magnetic circuitis increased only at the point of contact of the ball member, a highratio of sealing force to moving mass in the ball member is possible.The speed of response of the switch assembly is obviously very high.

Due to the fact that a movable contact member of the assembly is asphere or ball, the movable contact member has substantially pointcontact and the ball has an infinite number of contact points available.

The single point contact of the ball member has high impact pressure andis thus capable of easily penetrating oxide formations or foreign matteron the contact surfaces.

Due to the fact that the inner shell 24 separates the operating coil 34from the magnet core 12, the shell 24 serves as shielding means againstdemagnetization of the core 24 by magnetomotive forces established bythe coil.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has I been described, itwill be understood that within the purview of this invention variouschanges may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement ofparts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generallystated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects setforth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

.1. Switch mechanism comprising a magnetizable base member, a magnetizedcore attached to the base member and extending therefrom, the corehaving an end portion of reduced dimension and integral therewithdisposed in spaced relation from the base member and of a givenpolarity, a pair of spaced-apart magnetizable shell members, each of theshell members having a portion adjacent the base member and electricallyinsulated from the base member, a coil of electric conductor materialdisposed intermediate the shell members for magnetization thereof, eachof the shell members having a protuberant portion adjacent said endportion of the core, a spherical magnetizable member in engagement withsaid end portion of the core and engageable with each of saidprotuberant portions of the shell members.

2. An electric switch mechanism comprising a magnetizable base, anelongate core member having one end portion thereof attached to thebase, the opposite portion of the core member having a tapered end, thecore member extending normally from the base at substantially the centerthereof, the core member being permanently magnetized with a north poleat one end thereof and a south pole at the other end thereof, a sheet ofelectrical insulator material encompassing the core member and engagingthe base, an inner shell open at both ends thereof and encompassing thecore in spaced relation therefrom, the inner shell having an end inengagement with the sheet of insulator material and an opposite endprovided with a protuberance extending to a position adjacent thetapered end of the core member, an outer shell open at both ends thereofand encompassing the inner shell in spaced relation therefrom, the outershell having an end in engagement with the sheet of insulator materialand an opposite end provided with a protuberance extending to a positionadjacent the tapered end of the core member, a coil of electricconductor material disposed intermediate the shells, a sphericalmagnetizable member in engagement with the tapered end of the coremember and engageable with each of the protuberances, electric conductormeans connected to the coil, electric conductor means connected to theouter shell, electric conductor means connected to the inner shell andelectric conductor means connected to the core member.

3. Electric switch mechanism comprising a magnetizable base member, apair of spaced-apart magnetizable substantially cylindrical shellmembers joined in a magnetic circuit with the base member, each of theshell members having an extending contact portion, the contact portionsbeing in spaced relation, a coil of electric conductor material disposedintermediate the shell members for magnetization thereof, a magnet corecoaxial with the shell members and joined in a magnetic circuit with thebase member, the magnet core having an extendingterminal portionadjacent the contact portions of the shell members, a sphericalmagnetizable member magnetically held in engagement with the terminalportion of the core, the spherical member also being engageable with thecontact portion of either of the shell members.

4. Electrical circuit switching mechanism comprising magnetizable basemeans, a plurality of magnetizable shell members electrically separatedone from the other and in a magnetic circuit with the base means,electric coil means disposed adjacent the shell members and co-- axialtherewith for magnetization thereof, each of the shell members having anengagement portion of reduced dimensions, the engagement portions beingin spacedapart relation, magnetizable core means attached to the basemeans, the core means having a reduced portion extending to a positionadjacent the engagement portions of the shell members, and magnetizableroller means in engagement with the reduced portion of the core meansand movably engageable with the engagement portions of the shellmembers.

5. A single pole double throw electromagnetic switch mechanismcomprising a circular base of magnetizable material, an elongatemagnetized core, the core having a north pole at one end thereof and asouth pole at the other end thereof, one end of the core being firmlyattached to the base, the core thus having an extending magneticallypolarized end in spaced relation from the base, the magneticallypolarized end of the core being of reduced dimensions, a spherical ballof magnetizable material magnetically retained in engagement with saidextending polarized end of the core, a thin sheet of electricalinsulator material in engagement with the base and encompassing thecore, a first hollow cylinder of magnetizable material encompassing thecore, the first hollow cylinder being open at both ends thereof, one endof the first cylinder being in engagement with the sheet of insulatormaterial, the other end of the first cylinder having a protuberance ofreduced dimensions extending to a position adjacent said ball, the ballbeing engageable with the protuberance of the first cylinder while theball is also in engagement with the core, an operating coil encirclingthe first cylinder, a second hollow cylinder open at both ends thereof,the second cylinder encompassing the operating coil, the second cylinderhaving one end thereof in engagement with the sheet of insulatormaterial, the other end of the second cylinder having a protuberance ofreduced dimensions extending to a position adjacent said ball, the ballbeing engageable with the protuberance of either cylinder while the ballis also in engagement with the core, and means for connecting theoperating coil to a source of electrical energy the polarity of whichmay be controlled, and electric conductor means connected to the coreand to the cylinders.

6. Electric switch mechanism comprising an inner magnetizable shell andan outer magnetizable shell, an operating coil disposed intermediate theshells, the shells being electrically separated but so juxtapositionedthat magnetic flux can flow between the shells when the coil isenergized, a magnetized core forming a magnetic circuit with the shells,the core having a protuberant portion, a roller member magneticallyretained in engagement with the core, each of the shells having aprotuberant portion extending to a position adjacent the roller member,the roller member being engageable with the protuberant portion ofeither of the shells while remaining in engagement with the protuberantportion of the core.

7. A switch assembly comprising a permanent magnet, a plurality ofmagnetizable members electrically separated one from the other and fromthe permanent magnet, each of the magnetizable members having aprotuberant engagement portion, the magnetizable members being injuxtaposition with the permanent magnet and forming 6 magnetic circuitswith the permanent magnet, there being an air gap between a portion ofthe permanent magnet and said protuberant engagement portions of themagnetizable members, a spherical magnetizable member positioned in theair gap and magnetically retained in engagement with the permanentmagnet, the spherical member being movable within the air gap to engageeither of the magnetizable members while remaining in engagement withthe permanent magnet, operating coil means adjacent the magnetizablemembers and coaxial therewith for controllingmagnetizati'on thereof, andelectric conductor means'attaclied to the permanent'magnet and to the"magnetizablemembers.

8. Switch mechanism comprising a plurality of hollow cylindricalmagnetizable members concentric one with the other, the members beingelectrically separated, means magnetically joining the members, apermanent magnet concentric with the cylindrical members and attached tosaid means, the magnet having a reduced portion, each of the cylindricalmembers having a protuberance extending to a position adjacent thereduced portion of the magnet so that an air gap exists between saidreduced portion of the magnet and the protuberance of each cylindricalmember, roller means disposed within said air gap and magnetically heldin engagement with the reduced portion of the magnet, the roller meansbeing movable to engage the protuberance of each cylindrical member,electrical coil means adjacent the cylindrical members and coaxialtherewith for magnetization thereof, and electrical conductor meansconnected to the magnet and to the cylindrical members.

9. Electric switch mechanism including a permanent magnet, an operatingcoil coaxial with the magnet and in spaced relation therefrom, shieldingmeans intermediate the coil and the magnet for shielding the magnetagainst demagnetization caused by magnetomotive forces established bythe coil, the magnet having an extending portion of reduced dimensions,a spherical magnetizable member in engagement with said portion of themagnet, a plurality of magnetizable abutment members adjacent thespherical member and magnetizable by the coil, the spherical memberbeing engageable with any one of the abutment members while thespherical member remains in engagement with the magnet, and electricconductor means connected to the abutment members and to the magnet.

10. Switch mechanism comprising a pair of concentric electricallyseparated hollow cylindrical magnetizable members, a magnetizable basemagnetically joining: the members, an elongate magnet core firmlyattached to the base and extending normally therefrom and concentricWith said members, a magnetizable ball in engagement with the core at anend thereof, each of the cylindrical members having a substantiallyradial protuberance extending to a position adjacent the ball, eachradial protuberance having an arcuate surface concentric with the core,the ball being engageable with the protuberance of either cylindricalmember while the ball remains in engagement with the core, and anoperating coil member concentric with the cylindrical members anddisposed intermediate the cylindrical members.

11.. Electric switch mechanism comprising an inner magnetizable member,an outer magnetizable member, an operating coil disposed intermediatethe magnetizable members, the magnetizable members being electricallyseparated but so positioned that magnetic flux can flow therebetweenwhen the coils are energized, a permanent magnet body coaxial with themagnetizable members and forming a magnetic circuit with themagnetizable members, each of the magnetizable members and the permanentmagnet body having an extending portion, all of the extending portionsbeing in juxtaposition with an airgap separating the extending portions,a roller member within the airgap and in engagement with the extendingportion of the permanent magnet body and engageable the extending endportion of the permanent magnet and cngageable with the extendingportion of either of the magnetizable members, and electrical conductormeans connected to the permanent magnet and to the magnet- 6 izablemembers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 102,369,296 Irvin et al. Feb. 13, 1945 2,488,928 Packard Nov. 22, 19492,732,458 Buckingham Jan. 24, 1956 2,833,882 Valehrach May 6, 1958

